We had the good fortune of connecting with Ange Mertzlufft and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Ange, what inspires you?
When I sit and think about this… in short, it’s music–but in long, it’s music in every sense of the word. It’s the loud arenas or any show at work, it’s the joy I see on every VIP I’ve ever had. It’s the songs that feel like a cape of strength in all the protests I’ve been apart of. My recipes’ soundtrack. The perfect compliment to my time outside. It’s the music playing in my garage studio that helps me create the pieces my heart needs to. Music makes things make sense for me. It gives my life cozy.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
As far as my work in live events, production, & VIP I mainly stay in the Pop world & have been expanding into K-Pop with some recent gigs & tours. As the VIP coordinator/rep I am there to fulfill whatever the VIP package sold was and to handle anything that comes up. I advance the VIP program with the venue & hire local staff. I’ve done meet & greets, soundcheck experiences, & pre-show lounges. In the Pop world, some stigmatize the fan bases as “hard” to handle but not for me I love them. Remember that joy I mentioned earlier? That my VIPs feel? I can identify with that. & I think that’s what sets me apart. I loved N’SYNC & Britney (whom I’ve been lucky enough to tour for hehe) so I get it. Their excitement is contagious to me. I am most proud of my roster. I’m so thankful. I’ve worked with/for some of the biggest names in pop & k-pop in the world.

It was & wasn’t easy to get to where I am now. I say “was” because I’m only 3 connections away from the man who first hired me in music. With that hire I met someone, who connected with someone in LA who hired me, where I met someone who connected me with touring. What wasn’t easy is feeling so stuck yet feeling like making a change wasn’t fully right either. All of the imposter syndrome & anxiety. The time spent trying to work with people who didn’t pan out which just took away from working on me. Feeling like I lost time. Feeling like I should have taken that lunch with that one person. Feeling like having so many interests was holding me back. Like I couldn’t be in live events production, be an artist/creator, & be an activist but I didn’t want to pick just one. The lesson I’ve learned is that I don’t have to.

Which has been exciting for me! A lot of my art is acrylic & resin pour paintings reflecting my feelings & emotion the day poured. Last year I placed my art in two separate silent auctions. One for a youth & community empowerment non-profit and the other to support a Black woman attacked by white supremacists & wrongfully arrested. Last month I organized my 2nd Annual So So Cozy Drive which is a community fundraiser & drive I host for my birthday. This year we collected brand new twin size bed sheets & sheet sets for the Women’s Shelter of Long Beach and raised $230 for a community member’s medical bills. Currently, through the end of March am selling postcard packs I made using photos I took & edited to benefit the organization Black Girls Code. I think what sets me apart in this aspect of my life is that although I would love to make money creating art one day, I’m mainly trying to do what I can to help someone who needs more.

My life’s work is figuring out how all of these come together & thrive. Something I tell myself often is, “just do what you came to do & people will love you”.

When it comes to my individual brand, I want people to know that “cozy” is more than just a hot cup tea & the soft blankets. Like it is that, but it’s also a feeling. It’s an essence, a persona, a way of life.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I’m lucky to live in Long Beach & be close to so many fun things to do, see, & places to eat! If you want to do free things outside: there’s free yoga every day at 11am at Bluff Park which is very cozy, walk or ride along the beach path, tons of parks to play in, trees to tie your hammock to.

To eat, I’m vegan & a HUGE foodie so narrowing down my favorite places to eat is very hard for me! If I had to choose I’ll say for full killer vegan: Wild Chive, Hippea, & Devi’s Donuts. For places with great vegan options & well known carnivore food: Tasty Food Togo, I Luv Sushi, Thai Curry Pizza, Jim’s, & the Attic.

To shop, walk down Fourth Street & check out the vintage shops, but don’t forget to keep pushing past Cherry St to check out Taste of Jamaica for plants, herbs, incense, oils & more! Sooo many people tell me I smell good–this is where I get the body oil I wear! Then stop. by Play Nice which is a community space with art & books, which you can purchase!
For fresh flowers: Allen’s
For coffee: Portfolio

If you want to go out go to Que Sera & make it the first Friday of the month for Fight Club which is just the best music night. Real musicians, singers, local artists, music lovers in one place just loving & vibing. It’s served as a creative reset to me every month. (cash only)

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Yes, and I’m going to take it allllll the way back to the first person to hire me in the music industry ever, a man named Jon Spinder. He was one of the Promotions Directors at Entercom, a radio station company in Rochester, NY where I’m from. One of the radio stations would come into this job I had at this children’s birthday party place every Easter for this Easter egg hunt and finally, my first year in college I walked up to the table & said “Hey I just changed my major to communications & I’d like to work here” This man hands me his card & says, “Yup. I’ve seen you here every year and you work harder than everyone, I’d love you on my team. Send me your resume.” So I went home & literally submitted a trash resume!!! I think all it had was my high school! We laughed about it in my interview!! So when I think about my success? Jon Spinder was the first one to see me here in this space, maybe even before I did. He said yes to the 19-year-old with nothing but work ethic & heart. So wherever you are now Spinder, thank you.

Instagram: @angiemsays

Twitter: @angiemsays

Other: TikTok: @wherethecozyflows

Image Credits
Cara Gonzales for imagine in mask with black sweat pants kneeling in front of large sign only.

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